Primary Cicatricial Alopecia: Diagnosis and Treatment

May 2013 in “ Canadian Medical Association Journal ”

Rebecca Filbrandt, Nicholas W Rufaut, Leslie Jones, Rodney Sinclair

primary cicatricial alopecia hair follicles scar tissue anti-inflammatory drugs immunosuppressive drugs topical steroids intralesional triamcinolone hydroxychloroquine psychological support antigens cell-bound targets folliculocentric attack steroids triamcinolone Plaquenil

TLDR Primary cicatricial alopecia, a rare disorder causing permanent hair loss, is hard to diagnose and treat, with treatments like anti-inflammatory drugs and steroids offering varied results and no guaranteed cure. Psychological support for patients is important, and future research should aim to identify causes of the condition.

The 2013 document discussed primary cicatricial alopecia, a group of rare disorders causing permanent hair loss by destroying hair follicles and replacing them with scar tissue. The condition was challenging to diagnose and treat, with no known cause, and represented about 7% of patients in specialist hair loss clinics. The document emphasized early diagnosis to prevent further hair loss and suggested treatments including anti-inflammatory or immunosuppressive drugs, topical steroids, intralesional triamcinolone, and hydroxychloroquine. However, treatment effectiveness varied and there was no guaranteed cure. The document also highlighted the psychological impact of hair loss and recommended psychological support for patients. It also suggested future investigations should focus on identifying antigens or cell-bound targets and triggers for the folliculocentric attack.

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